Strong Bloodlines Keeping Huskies In The Game

UW Huskies – Family Ties

Watching the University of Washington Huskies football team play should bring a feeling of De Ja Vu for some NFL fans, particularly Seahawks fans.

This is because Cornerback Desmond Trufant is the brother of Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant and Jets CB Isaiah Trufant, who last week returned a blocked punt for a Touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. Kicker Eric Folk is the brother of Jets K Nick Folk, who kicked what turned out to be the game winning field goal last weekend, also against the Cowboys.

Trufant , currently a Junior at UW, has been one of the bright spots of the Husky defense this season, recording 15 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a forced fumble in 2 games so far. His big plays came when the Huskies needed them most. With 29 seconds left in the first game of the season, with Eastern Washington University driving to score the possible game winning touchdown, Trufant intercepted a pass near the endzone from Eastern QB Bo Levi Mitchell that clinched the 30-27 victory for the Huskies.

Desmond Trufant - Strong Bloodlines Keeping Huskies In The Game

Earlier in the game, Trufant caused a forced fumble on a punt return. He followed that game up with another strong performance and another clutch, game-saving play. With 1:39 left in the game, Hawaii had just scored, making the game 38-32. The Hawaii PAT was blocked by Huskies DE Everrette Thompson (his second blocked PAT of the game) and the ball was picked up and returned for 2 points by Trufant, giving the Huskies a 40-32 lead and the eventual win.

His inspired play earned him the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week award in week 1. Despite being on the arch nemesis of his brother’s Alma Mater, Trufant is playing inspired football and seems poised for a big career, just like his older brother.

Senior Kicker Eric Folk has had his share of star performances for the Huskies this season, too. His golden leg has been noticed, earning him Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week in week 1. That award came after a 3-3 performance against Eastern Washington.

He booted field goals of 40 yards, 47 yards, and an impressive 53 yards to help keep the Huskies in the lead. Against Hawaii, he kicked a lone field goal of 36 yards. Calling on the field goal kicker is usually not a good thing, meaning your offensive drive fell short.

In college, kickers are usually shaky and frequently inaccurate. For the Huskies, bringing in the field goal kicker is just extra insurance and almost surely more points on the board. With the way he’s performing this season, Eric Folk is well on his way of joining his older brother Nick in the NFL’s pool of Kickers.

One more player with NFL bloodlines has yet to play a game as a Husky, but his arrival on-field is highly anticipated by Husky Nation.

Nick Montana, the Husky redshirt freshman, is the son of former star NFL Hall of Fame QB, Joe Montana. Nick seems to be the heir apparent to Keith Price‘s QB spot or possibly the savior this season if Price can’t get the job done. If Montana is anything like his father, the Huskies are in for a real treat.

Mix the talent of these NFL siblings with the likes of Senior LB Cort Dennison, Junior RB Chris Polk, Senior WR’s Jermaine Kearse and Devin Aguilar, and the highly touted freshman WR Kasen Williams, the Huskies hope to be telling the Pac-12 and the rest of the NCAA to “Bow Down” this season.